Today in History:

107 Series I Volume XVI-I Serial 22 - Morgan's First Kentucky Raid, Perryville Campaign Part I

Page 107 Chapter XXVIII. GENERAL REPORTS.

Question. Did General Buell use vigorous efforts to correct this marauding after the publication of this order?

He always did. Not only on the marching of my division, but he has provoked me on many occasions by reprimanding my command when I thought he should have required me to do it. I have seen him do it personally and order men to be punished for it, and especially for straggling.

Question. Straggling is a necessary result of marauding, is it not?

No man did more to repress it than General Buell, and I am sorry to say that there are frightful causes of companies now.

General BUELL. May I inquire if he has heard it charged against the Army of the Ohio that it was lawless?

No,sir.

By General ORD:

Question. Did this produce any feeling on the part of the officers toward General Buell?

I do not know whether it produced any feeling or not. The immediate commanders were responsible for these things and it was on them depended the execution of the orders; on them the fault-finding would fall. I believe that General Buell's army was the best ever put in the field, and I have heard General Rosecrans say it was the best organized army that ever was and that is my belief this day. There was never a more untiring general than General Buell. I never knew when he slept. I have been at this headquarters at all hours, but never found him asleep. I have spoken to him many times about it.

Question. Did you get the newspapers in your camp during the months of August and September?

We did not get them very frequently during that time, for I think the railroad was cut.

Question. Was it apprehended among the army that General Buell's conduct would be criticized in the newspapers?

I was under the impression that it would be. I have been abused by the Abolition press North and I hope I shall continue to be.

Question. Do you think the remarks of the newspapers had any influence in producing insubordination in the Army?

In one case I do. There was a pest of correspondent in my division that I was after all that time, but could never catch. I think it would have an effect upon soldiers. I remember once General Buell was called an ass, but I never could find out who the correspondent was. As a rule I expel correspondents; they are not judges of what to publish and what to suppress. I believe they are the worst enemies of our Army, for I have seen publication that have given information respecting my movements known only to my officers high in command - facts in relation to the organization of my division and its movements. I know that correspondents complained bitterly because General Buell never encouraged them. The same complaint was made against me. I had the correspondent of the Cincinnati Gazette arrested and put of the army because he published things he had no business to. I will further state, in this country, above all others, it is a difficult thing to obtain anything like satisfactory evidence of the position of the enemy, for their front is always covered with cavalry, and it is very difficult to get spies into their lines. I have always found it so, and there are no citizens are no citizens on whom you can rely. Those who have information and are disposed to tell it are afraid to do so.

By General BUELL:

Question. Will you please give the particulars of your march from Corinth to Battle Creek? Give the date of your departure from Corinth and your arrival at Florence; how you were employed there at the time of your from Huntsville to Battle Creek. Give the distances, if you remember them.

After the evacuation of Corith there was a portion of General Buell's army sent


Page 107 Chapter XXVIII. GENERAL REPORTS.